Deerfield To Have Role In Fau Research Park

DEERFIELD BEACH — The City Commission recently approved leasing a building along Southeast 11th Way for Florida Atlantic University to house a research and development park.

The park will consist of a $750,000 building and will house the university's Internet e-commerce business and information technology departments.

"The FAU park is a big, incredible opportunity," City Manager Larry Deetjen said. "We start the new century with e-commerce and information technology. It's a chance to incubate and grow."

Deetjen likened the park's arrival to the invention of the automobile at the turn of the last century. He added that FAU began talking with the city about the park because of Deerfield Beach's central location within the "Internet Coast," a term used to describe the vast number of Internet startups between Miami and West Palm Beach.

"Since working with FAU, I've been to enough meetings to feel pretty excited about this," Deetjen said.

Deetjen said that the new park would bring not only job opportunities to Deerfield Beach residents, but could create a partnership between the park and Deerfield Beach High School, leading to new opportunities for young adults.

"Everything in high-tech doesn't require a graduate degree," said Scott Ellington, director of the university's research authority. "We still need people to connect the servers and pull the wires. There's a lot of talent required, but it's not all graduate talent."

Though the university has an enrollment that has hovered around 10,000 students over the past few years, and FAU endowments have continued to increase to more than $100 million.

The university now has seven campuses, stretching from Dania Beach to Port St. Lucie.

FAU has been successful in launching research parks in the past. In 1996, the university built and opened a one-story, 24,000-square-foot research park in Boca Raton.

The difference between that park and the one in Deerfield Beach is that the city will operate the building.

"It's a great opportunity for jobs and all types of opportunities," Deetjen said. "[FAU] can tap the talent and they can benefit."

Glenn Jeffers can be reached at 954-356-4552 or gjeffers@sun-sentinel.com